Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Healthcare > Health insurers Tier 1

The ‘robust‘ team at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP acts for a lucrative client base which notably includes Blue Shield of California and Aetna Life Insurance Company. William Bernstein leads the New York-based practice with his broad expertise in health service payment issues, and Robert Belfort is known for his vast transactional capabilities, often assisting insurers with value-based arrangements. In Los Angeles, Ileana Hernandez leads the firm’s healthcare litigation group, often acting for insurers and health plans in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) cases, while healthcare litigator Gregory Pimstone focuses on FCA and insurance disputes, and Paul Carr-Rollitt regularly advises on the integration of health plans and health systems. Randi Seigel is particularly knowledgeable in matters concerning HIPAA, routinely advising clients on Medicare and Medicaid participation and billing, and Michael Kolber leverages his governmental expertise to assist with corporate transactions and matters concerning commercial managed care.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 2

Primarily based in New York, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP‘s practice is well known for its strong expertise in payment and delivery systems, in addition to its broad experience in healthcare-related corporate governance and health IT. Known for his expertise in AI, digital health, and transactional healthcare matters, William Bernstein leads the team, while Helen Pfister regularly assists mental health facilities and hospitals with regulatory and transactional issues. Working out of the Los Angeles office, Paul Carr-Rollitt assists a varied client list of academic medical centers and e-health companies, and Washington DC’s Blair Cantfil has ample knowledge of federal healthcare program access and fraud and abuse work. Regulatory expert Randi Seigel advises a number of women’s health companies and post-acute care providers on payment arrangements, and fraud and abuse issues. Brian Bewley left the team in 2023.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 2

The corporate work at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is underpinned by the firm’s expertise in areas including tax, data security, IP and antitrust, allowing it to offer integrated advice on all aspects of buy- and sell-side M&A. The team handles transactional matters for a broad spread of clients, with the team notably active across deals in the media, financial services and software sectors. Thomas Poletti heads up the practice from Los Angeles and advises a range of clients on both stock and cash acquisitions as well as disposals; he is also very well-versed in SPAC work in the cannabis space. In Washington DC, ‘first-class lawyer’ Scott Schwartz wins plaudits for his work on the risk management aspects of M&A deals. Craig Miller, who is based in San Francisco, frequently leverages his expertise to lead transactions involving clients from the financial services sector. LA-based Veronica Lah is another name to note.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: transactional and regulatory Tier 2

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 2

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP‘s media and entertainment practice represents industry giants in the production industry as well as major music artists and broadcast personalities, offering a comprehensive range of services covering high-profile M&A transactions, distribution deals, corporate partnerships, and financings. With a particularly strong foothold in the music sector, the team's expertise extends to emerging companies and platforms in podcasting, television, games/esports, virtual reality, and other emerging digital media spaces. The team is headed up by Jordan Bromley in Los Angeles, who is renowned for his work on issues surrounding the streaming economy, major music transactions, and deals related to Web 3.0 products and projects. Other key figures at the firm include prolific debt financing expert Sophia Yen, Christopher Chatham, who is experienced in advising clients on various production issues, and Gary Gilbert, a sought-after advisor in the music space who represents recording artists, producers, songwriters, and executives in complex, high-profile transactions.

Real estate > Land use/zoning Tier 2

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP has a strong land use practice focusing on complex developments in California, which is bolstered by the team's ability to draw on firmwide strengths in real estate and government matters. Leading the group from Los Angeles, Victor De La Cruz is noteworthy for his ability to handle complex land use matters for a wide variety of clients, such as colleges and universities, waste haulers, signage companies and real estate developers. Susan Hori is based in Orange County and handles the full range of land use and development matters, with a particular emphasis on CEQA and entitlement issues. Sigrid Waggener is based in San Francisco and advises clients on entitlement, permitting and regulatory issues. Los Angeles-based environmental and real estate litigation expert Fernando Villa joined from Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in February 2023.

Industry focus > Cannabis Tier 3

The team at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP assists companies, individuals, and investors with the range of cannabis matters, including complex regulatory and licensing mandates. National practice head Anita Famili, based at the firm’s Los Angeles location, is well-versed in corporate structuring, M&A, regulatory compliance, and advertising. Axel Bernabe joined the New York office from the Office of Cannabis Management in October 2023 and brings regulatory expertise as well as knowledge of the healthcare and cannabis industries to the table.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 3

The team at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP leverages the bench strength of its ten national offices to represent major music and entertainment industry clients involved in high-stakes litigation. The practice is headed by veteran entertainment litigator Robert Jacobs, a specialist in music industry matters. Jessica Wood brings expertise to prosecution, litigation, and transactional matters across such sectors as tech, software, digital media, and fashion. Nathaniel Bach, who handles complex matters involving royalties and the right of publicity, acts for a wide client base of film and television studios, music publishers, and journalists. All lawyers mentioned work in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 3

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP‘s privacy and data security is praised for its ‘collaborative nature’, advising clients across a wide range of industries with a focus on technology, financial services, and healthcare. Los Angeles-based Donna Wilson is a key name combining financial services industry expertise with experience in cyber risk management and enforcement actions. Practice head Brandon Reilly, who works out of Orange County, is recommended for his ‘awareness of ever-changing privacy-related trends‘, specifically noted for his advice regarding regulatory changes in California. For healthcare matters, New York-based Robert Belfort is a go-to. Scott Lashway and Christopher Lisy have left the firm.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 3

The team at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP has continued to build on its music expertise by shifting focus to artists and talent management clients, for whom it handles contract, profit participation, and IP disputes. As well as in the courtroom, the group has achieved success in strategic negotiations that promote ongoing business relationships and avoid publicity or industry embarrassment. Robert Jacobs chairs the team and specializes in significant, complex litigation involving talent agencies, artists, and corporations. Nathaniel Bach is well acquainted with the intricacies of IP litigation and also handles contractual disputes for entertainment clients. Sarah Moses is respected for her litigation skills and is currently representing Logan Paul in a high-profile class action matter relating to the influencer’s online NFT videogame.  

Environment > Environment: regulatory Tier 4

Finance > Fintech Tier 4

Well-regarded for its corporate and securities law expertise, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP enjoys a strong reputation in consumer lending and data protection matters. The practice, which is lauded by clients for its ‘responsiveness’, is also knowledgeable of decentralized finance, NFTs, and regulatory compliance. In New York, Brian Korn is well-regarded for his fintech lending and investment structuring and compliance expertise, he also often advises clients on implementing cloud and blockchain technologies. Scott Pearson oversees the firm’s consumer financial services practice from Los Angeles and works with New York-based Eric Knight on negotiating bank partnership documentation. Other key team members include Orange County-based Bernhard Alvine, who is a key port of call for fintech credit agreements and forward flow arrangements.  

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 4

The practice at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP handles the defense of employment claims, namely those involving wage and hour, wrongful termination, discrimination, PAGA representative actions, and seating and rest breaks. The group acts for clients in the healthcare, retail, and entertainment segments. Los Angeles-based Esra Hudson steers the department and specializes in wage and hour litigation, trade secret and unfair competition claims, and discrimination, harassment, and wrongful discharge matters, as well as arbitration. Additional names to note include San Francisco-based Sharon Bauman, and Andrew Satenberg in Los Angeles, who both frequently handle multi-plaintiff disputes.

Real estate Tier 4

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is frequently involved in sizeable development projects and transactions, alongside several large leasing and loan negotiation cases, among other areas like joint ventures, title work, and restructuring. The firm acts for a multitude of buyers and sellers along with developers and lenders, advising the likes of Jay Paul Company. Advising across a broad range of assets that include industrial, office, and residentials, the team also has experience advising in the technology, health care, and culture space, with Los Angeles Museum of Art counting among its client roster. The practice is jointly led by Michael Polentz in Palo Alto and Anita Famili in Los Angeles. On the east coast, Ted Hunter advises on a range of transactions, financings, and workouts from the firm’s New York office. Meanwhile back in San Francisco, Tara Shabahang is a key name on borrower-side finance, regularly taking the lead in cases of distressed assets. LA’s Elizabeth Levin is also noted, with one client noting that ‘her understanding of legal concepts and ability to negotiate are second to none.’ 

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 5

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP represents a broad array of clients across key industry sectors, including  transportation, healthcare, financial services, and retail. Los Angeles-based practitioner Naeun Rim heads up the team. Also in Los Angeles is seasoned trial lawyer Ronald Turovsky, whose practice emphasizes trade secrets, unfair competition, ERISA, and real estate cases. Barry Lee has extensive experience in both jury and bench trials and splits his time between the firm’s San Francisco and Los Angeles offices.